signature structure - oakland university · 2020. 12. 10. · issue’s cover), much-needed...

Winter 2013

InsidePacesetters | Books and beyond | The French connection

Signaturestructure

Winter 2013MAGAZINE STAFF

Executive Editor | Lillian Lorenzi

Editor | Kevin Knapp

Art Director | Debra Lashbrook

Photographer | Rick Smith

Production Coordinator | Bonnie Frizzell

Class Notes Coordinator | Shanna Dawson

Staff Writers | Daniel Bodene Michele Jasukaitis Katherine Land, MA ‘12

Eric Reikowski, CAS ‘07 Fritz Reznor

Proofreader | Laurie DiMauro

Oakland University Magazine is published three times a year. It is distributed free of charge to alumni, staff and friends. See current and past issues on oakland.edu/oumag.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. ISSN: 1054-6480. Issue No. 88.

Editorial Offices Anibal House, Oakland University, 2200 North Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309-4401 Phone (248) 370-3184 | Fax (248) 370-3182

Letters to the Editor should be mailed to our editorial offices or emailed to [email protected]. Include your name, address and a phone number or email address. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

Address Changes Call (248) 364-6133 or email [email protected].

Oakland University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution.

ON THE COVER

Bells will chime when the Elliott Carillon Tower opens on campus in 2014.

Features

Pacesetters Charter class med students aim to leave a legacy.

Kicking it up a notch Women’s soccer team takes it to a new level.

Books and beyond From the printed page to the Digital Age in OU’s libraries.

COVER STORY Signature structure Elliott donation intends to make a towering statement.

The French connection Public relations pro rocks out with OU scholarship.

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Departments

President’s perspective

News

Giving

The Gold Standard

Sports

OU Moment

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4

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11

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Alumni profiles

33 Bonnie Lawrence, SEHS ’79, finds adventure in the Peace Corps.34 Dave Bennett, MAcc ’12, SBA ’06, balances math — and music. 39 Kimberly Duenow, SON ’08, CAS ’02, takes nursing skills abroad.

Behind the stories

Alumni

Ambassador Spotlight

Alumni News

Class Notes

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As readers of OU Magazine are well aware, many encouraging changes have taken place at Oakland University in recent years. Our progress can be measured in numerous ways: our record enrollment, the growth in academic offerings, the national profile of our athletic teams, and the physical improvements to the campus.

Now we welcome news of further developments: the Elliott Carillon Tower (featured on this issue’s cover), much-needed additional on-campus housing, an outdoor athletics complex and more. Clearly, it’s an exciting time to be part of the OU community.

In this issue, we invite you to learn about the standout members of the OUWB School of Medicine’s charter class, the surprising season for the OU women’s soccer team, the numerous enhancements that keep Kresge Library relevant in the age of Google, and a public relations superstar who is giving back to his alma mater.

Each story is yet another example of — and a reason for — OU pride; something our readers know all about.

— Kevin Knapp

2 Oakland University Magazine | Winter 2013

© 2007, Sam Parsons, CSUS/ATCS

Oakland University is a proud partner of the City of Rochester.

DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER | A perfect mix of historic and hip.2013 EVENTS CALENDARDOWNTOWN ROCHESTER FARmERS’ mARkET*Saturdays, May 4 – October 26

DECk ART 2013 PREViEW FAmiLy NigHT* May 16

DECk ART 2013May 17

gREATER ROCHESTER HERiTAgE DAySMay 25 – May 26

JuNk iN THE TRuNk*June 15 (rain date June 22)

SiDEWALk SALES*July 11 – 13

mOViES iN THE mOONLigHT*July 13, 20, 27 and August 3

Big, BRigHT BALL*August 4

ROCkiN’ RODS N’ ROCHESTERAugust 11

ROCHESTER’S gREAT AmERiCAN BAkE SALE*August 17

ART & APPLES FESTiVALSeptember 6 – 8

SPOTLigHTS ART SHOWSeptember 6 – 8

ROCHESTER POSEDOctober 3

TRiCk-OR-TREAT DOWNTOWN*October 19

TRiCk-OR-TREAT AT THE FARmERS’ mARkET*October 26

LAgNiAPPE*December 2

THE Big, BRigHT LigHT SHOW*December 2 – January 4, 2014

kRiS kRiNgLE mARkET*December 6 – 7

CHRiSTmAS PARADEDecember 8

For more information, call the Downtown Development Authority office at (248) 656-0060, or visit www.DowntownRochestermi.com, facebook.com/downtown.rochester or twitter.com/rochesterdda.

*Indicates Downtown Rochester signature event

uc

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Show your true colors when you shop for Oakland University

merchandise. Check out the range of apparel, including

hats, sweatshirts, T-shirts, jackets, tote bags and more,

available at the OU Bookstore in the lower level of the

Oakland Center and online at oakland.bkstore.com.

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President’s perspective

It was a great privilege to meet and speak with many alumni and friends who joined us for the Homecoming celebration this year. It was an opportunity to savor the abundant enthusiasm for Oakland University that was evident everywhere — from the stands of the O’rena and the tailgating parties across from the Recreation Center to the Oakland Center banquet rooms and the grand hallways of Meadow Brook Hall.

Indeed, those of you who haven’t returned to OU in a while may be surprised by the level of campus activity and student spirit that typifies the campus today. Our student organizations now number more than 200, reflecting a diverse and involved student body. Our victorious sports teams have fostered the rapid growth of an enthusiastic and vocal fan base.

I’m delighted to tell you about a new development, one that will have a dramatic and positive impact on OU. Our Board of Trustees has approved the construction of several new student-centered construction projects on campus, including a new student housing complex, a new headquarters for facility and grounds maintenance operations, a new recreation and athletic complex and a 1,240-space parking structure. All are slated for a fall 2014 completion, as are the new engineering center and the recently announced Elliott Carillon Tower.

This renewed investment in our university will enable it to thrive in the 21st century. It stands as recognition that our most valuable resources are the young people who will soon assume leadership of our collective future. As such, we believe the investment we’re making in a better OU will inspire our students to work toward great successes that will undoubtedly be of tremendous benefit to all of us in years to come.

Sincerely, Gary D. Russi

“We believe the investment

we’re making in a better

OU will inspire our students

to work toward great

successes.”

– Gary D. Russi, president


News

New campus projects setSeveral student-centered construction projects have been approved by the Oakland University Board of Trustees. The projects, all slated for a fall 2014 completion, include construction of a 1,240-space parking structure, a new recreation and athletic complex, a nearly $30 million student housing complex and a new headquarters for facility and grounds maintenance operations.

The projects will significantly transform Oakland’s 1,443-acre campus in Rochester, which is home to exceptional academic and student life programs that have stimulated a 37 percent increase in student enrollment over 15 consecutive years of growth.

The plan for new facilities comes on the heels of several big campus improvements. Last fall saw the completion of Oakland’s nearly 172,825-square-foot Human Health Building, followed by the groundbreaking for a 127,000-square-foot Engineering Center, and the recent approval of plans for a 151-foot carillon tower, which was made possible by a generous gift from longtime university benefactors Hugh and Nancy Elliott.

The new student housing complex will welcome more than 500 resident students. It will also incorporate The Honors College and classrooms, a small cafe, and space for student meetings and private and group studying.

The new outdoor recreational and athletic facilities will accommodate NCAA Division I athletic events including tennis and track and field meets, club and intramural sports competitions, and a variety of fitness and recreational activities welcoming university students, faculty, staff and community visitors. l

‘Most courageous’ award given to Coach Francis Oakland University women’s basketball coach Beckie Francis has won the 2012-13 Pat Summit Most Courageous Award for her work as an advocate for child sexual abuse victims.

The distinction, presented by the United States Basketball Writers Association, recognized the successful coach for her personal courage in sharing her life experiences and speaking out for victims.

After suffering in silence for years, Francis spoke at a local event in 2011 about being the victim of sexual abuse. The support she received from victims encouraged Francis to share her story publicly in 2012, in articles for both the Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Magazine. l

Nursing program reaccreditedOakland University and Beaumont Health System have earned an important distinction with the reaccreditation of the Oakland University-Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The 10-year reaccreditation is the highest level extended to a program and lends an element of prestige to the OU-Beaumont program, which was established in 1991. The nurse anesthesia graduate program requires full-time coursework for 28 months. l

Criminal justice major introducedStudents at OU are taking a critical look at crime and punishment issues, with the launch of the new bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Housed in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice, the new major accommodates a fast-growing interest in the field, and offers a program unique to Oakland County.

The program allows students to tailor their studies to specific career area interests such as law enforcement, courts, corrections and treatment, juvenile justice, information security and assurance, and homeland security. Courses are offered both on OU’s main campus and at the Anton Frankel Center in Mount Clemens. l

Undergrad research center opensTo help provide students with an opportunity to conduct research on a broad scale, OU has established the Center for Undergraduate Research and Leadership (CURL).

The center, which opened in January, is also aimed at promoting leadership, excellence, creativity, innovation and social and public enterprise among the Oakland undergraduate community. Based in The Honors College, the center will make use of international research development strategies and build the valuable skills and experiences that will set students apart after graduation. l

HHB earns energy rebateOU’s newest building, the Human Health Building (HHB), earned a rebate totaling nearly $131,000 from DTE Energy as part of its New Construction Energy Efficiency Program for Business. The utility firm lauded the HHB’s integrated system approach to incorporating energy

Beckie Francis

Housing

oakland.edu 5

efficiency, which includes a full geothermal heat pump system coupled with a variable refrigerant flow heat pump system, installation of dedicated outdoor air units utilizing heat recovery, and a desiccant humidification system activated by a solar array. It is anticipated that the HHB will realize annual energy savings of more than 50 percent over a conventional building of its size and design. l

Harper named deanGraeme Harper, Ph.D., has been named dean of Oakland University’s Honors College, after having served as its director since he arrived at OU in August 2011. Dr. Harper holds doctorates from the University of East Anglia (U.K.) and the University of Technology (Sydney, Australia).

Dr. Harper has worked tirelessly to gain recognition of The Honors College as one of the top honors colleges in the U.S. Under his direction, The Honors College has launched several new initiatives, including The Global Imaginarium, the Honors College Inspiration Awards and the Making Discoveries colloquium.

A prolific author as well as scholar, Dr. Harper is a previous winner of the National Book Council Award (Australia) and the Premier’s Award, as well as awards and fellowships from the BBC, the British Academy and other organizations around the world. l

Meadow Brook Hall wins grant Meadow Brook Hall has been awarded an $18,000 grant from the State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA). The grant was awarded through the MCACA peer review process and was one of 401 applications to compete for MCACA fiscal year 2013 funding.

Organizations receiving a MCACA grant award are required to match those funds with other public and private dollars. Local support of the project included a matching grant from the Matilda R. Wilson Fund, a foundation established by Meadow Brook and Oakland University founder Matilda Dodge Wilson in the 1940s. Meadow Brook also receives significant private financial support annually from hundreds of individuals as well as corporations and foundations. l

OU, Chinese tech school sign agreementRecognizing a worldwide need for engineers with broad international experience, Oakland University and Changchun University of Technology (CCUT) in Changchun, Jilin, China, have entered an agreement to create a joint undergraduate program in mechanical engineering.

In the program, students will spend their first two years taking CCUT courses that mirror those taken in the first two years of study at OU. Students will then transfer to Oakland for their last two years to complete degree requirements. Graduates will receive two Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering — one from each of the partner universities. Initial demand for the program by CCUT students has been high. For the fall 2012 semester, 135 students enrolled. l

Study abroad options expandOakland University has increased the number of study abroad offerings to more than 295 programs in 45 countries through its membership in the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) study abroad consortium. The international study program now includes offerings in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and other locations.

CIEE students can study abroad for a single term, full academic year or a short, 3 – 5 week summer program. Costs vary depending on the program’s location and duration. Students register for classes and pay tuition through Oakland University. Coursework completed during the study abroad program earns Oakland University credit and applies to the students’ degree programs. l

Professor honored in FranceProfessor Emeritus and former director of OU’s piano program Flavio Varani received a high honor from the French government. He was made a Chevalier of

the Order of Arts and Letters at the Institut de France in Paris. The medal was presented by Conductor Maitre Laurent Petitgirard, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. While in France,

Professor Varani gave recitals in Normandy and the south of France. The award was made in recognition of Professor Varani’s “significant contribution to furthering the arts in France and the world.” l

Interior view of HHB

Graeme Harper, Ph.D.

Flavio Varani


News | student life corner

When military veterans return to their civilian activities and pursuits, the sudden adjustment can be challenging sometimes. Enrolling in college shouldn’t be one of their concerns, however. At OU, it’s a relatively smooth transition, aided frequently by someone who has been in the same position.

Indeed, veterans applying at OU have a wide range of services to support them — a fact that has not gone unnoticed in the military community. For the fifth year running, OU has been recognized as a “Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs magazine, a veteran-owned publication that gives the designation to the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide.

Now OU has taken its support a step further. Last fall, the university’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution that grants in-state tuition rates to veteran students who have been honorably discharged, regardless of their residence.

“Giving veterans the in-state tuition rates is the least we can do in their honor,” says Steve Shablin, OU registrar.

The university also reinstituted evaluation of veterans’ transcripts based on American Council on Education guidelines, a process that provides

Military veterans find OU a supportive, friendly institution

transfer credit recommendations to military personnel. This means service members can receive credit for courses taken as part of their military training. For the fall 2012 semester, a total of 247 veterans, including 57 dependents, were enrolled in classes, with more than 200 certified to receive Veterans Administration benefits.

The Office of the Registrar works closely with the Veterans Support Services office in helping military members and their dependents attain their educational benefits. The OU support team is also helpful in easing veterans and their families into the transition from military to college life.

“Often there are some difficulties they’ll experience in the transition,” says veterans liaison Brad Reichelt, who served three tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. “We understand that. We’re here to help support them during the transitions and can help with solving their problems. It’s just like the military — we don’t want them to fail, so we’re focused on finding a solution.”

He adds that the OU support team also works with the Student Veterans of OU to create events and programs that will help integrate the veteran population into college life. Donations made to OU

can be earmarked for the Veterans Gift Fund, he says, which helps support the college experience of returning veterans.

Michael Brennan, the adviser to the Student Veterans of OU organization and also a veteran of service in Iraq with the U.S. Army, remarks that “the student veterans’ organization is such a powerful force for bringing veterans together on campus. They support each other and create the link to the college experience that a lot of vets are seeking.”

During the recent OU Homecoming activities, for instance, a group of about 20 vets took part in the tailgating activity on campus and shared food and fun with other students and alumni.

“Vets also were involved in the Toys for Tots effort this past Christmas and collected a lot of toys for needy kids,” Brennan says. Past activities have included camping trips, leadership conferences and visits with state representatives in Lansing, he adds.

For more information on support services for veterans or their dependents, visit the Veterans Support Services website at oakland.edu/veterans or call (248) 370-2010. l

Photo by William Bourgeois

Photo by William Bourgeois


Giving

Longtime friends and Oakland University colleagues Ron Cramer, Ph.D., and Dorsey Hammond, Ph.D., are continuing their passion for the doctoral program they helped build by establishing the Ron Cramer and Dorsey Hammond Reading Legacy Endowment Fund.

Dr. Cramer, now a Distinguished Professor of education in the Oakland University Reading and Language Arts Department, arrived as an instructor in 1967 with the goal of creating its doctoral program. His friend, Dr. Hammond, a fellow University of Delaware graduate, joined him in 1970 and taught at OU until 2001. In March 2012, Dr. Hammond received professor emeritus status at OU.

In 1979, the Ph.D. in reading and language arts became the second doctoral program at OU. It was an accomplishment that many said couldn’t be done at the time. “With a lot of support from colleagues, we got it through,” Dr. Hammond remembers. “I think we were just too stubborn to quit.”

OU colleagues create reading legacy endowment fund

Businessman’s gift creates opportunity for Rochester-area studentsThe Huntington Ford Dealership of Rochester Hills has been reaching out to area high schools for several years through its Ford test drive program, “Drive One 4 UR School,” which has generated thousands of dollars for school booster clubs.This year, its owner, Pat Scoggin, took his support a step further.

He recently partnered with Oakland University to create a $10,000, four-year scholarship available each year to an incoming freshman representing one of four Rochester-area high schools: Adams, Stoney Creek, Rochester or Avondale.

“Here, I have four great high schools in my local market area and a fantastic partner in higher education — Oakland University,” says Scoggin, who also supports OU athletics. “What better way to give back than to find a really deserving student to help.”

Scholarship recipients must demonstrate financial need, strong grades and involvement in an extracurricular activity. They also are required to provide a letter of recommendation from at least one high school teacher.

“We read so much about kids going to school, finishing their degrees and being in debt. This scholarship provides an

opportunity for students to complete college without incurring debt,” Scoggin says. “It is intended to cover the recipient’s full tuition costs.”

After working with Oakland to establish this scholarship, it was especially exciting for him to meet the first recipient, Rochester High School graduate Jacqueline Yee.

“She just seems like a wonderful young lady,” he says. “She was thrilled, and her parents were so proud of her. I feel good about that.”

For Yee, meeting the Scoggins gave her the opportunity to express her gratitude to them.

“Mr. and Mrs. Scoggin have made it possible for me to pursue my dream in the legal profession,” Yee says. “Their kindness and generosity to create this scholarship and reach out to the greater Rochester community has been life-changing for me, and I cannot be more thankful.”

Scoggin and his wife, former elementary school teacher Christie, place a high value on education, so it’s meaningful to both of them to make education more accessible to members of their community.

“If I find that 10 years from now the Scoggin scholarship recipients go out and do good things, we will have been successful,” he says. l

Pat Scoggin and first recipient, Jacqueline Yee

Dr. Cramer says he knew that doctoral research and conferences are important ways to enhance what students learn, but often they lack adequate funding. So in 2005, he set a new goal of establishing a permanent endowment to provide these funds to students. Eight years later, he saw an opportunity to do even more. Dr. Hammond, now professor emeritus at Salisbury University in Maryland, was more than willing to team up again.

Drs. Cramer and Hammond chose to increase the endowment last fall to coincide with the All-University Fund Drive (AUFD), when each of their planned gifts were eligible for the president’s match of up to $5,000. Both made commitments using their individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Dr. Cramer made an IRA charitable distribution directly to the endowment, which reduced his taxable income, while Dr. Hammond named the endowment as the beneficiary of his IRA.

oakland.edu 9

Paying it forward is a way of life for OUAA board member Joseph Gardella, Ph.D., CAS ’77, and his wife, Carol Kizis. Dr. Gardella is the John and Frances Larkin Professor of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He was awarded the Presidential Award for Science, Mathematics and Engineering in 2005 for his commitment to mentoring students and advocating for minorities, women and disabled students in the areas of science and math.

The couple has carefully developed their philanthropic vision, which they have begun to fulfill by designing a scholarship for Oakland University undergraduate students who have graduated from high schools in Detroit and are studying teacher education or the sciences. Dr. Gardella and Kizis say they feel strongly about giving back to Oakland for providing more than just a college education.

“Oakland put me on this path, and the faculty support and mentoring I received there made me understand what I needed to do as a faculty member myself,” Dr. Gardella says.

The inspiration for the scholarship came from Dr. Gardella’s parents, Joseph A.

and Anne Lenore Gardella, who were public school teachers in Detroit. The scholarship is named in their honor.

“Encouraging students who come from a challenging background — not just to complete high school but to become educators themselves — is an inspiring mission,” says Louis Gallien, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education and Human Services. “Dr. Gardella and Ms. Kizis are making an exciting impact with this gift, and I’m sure the recipients will continue to pay it forward in their careers.”

Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Tamara Jhashi, Ph.D., says, “This scholarship will make a profound difference for the recipients. Supporting students who are pursuing a degree in science is one more way that Dr. Gardella and Ms. Kizis are advocating for diverse participation in these fields.”

Dr. Gardella and Kizis made their commitment through a remainder bequest, but they also hope to contribute to the fund during their lifetimes. The trust will take care of their loved ones, and when that need is finished, the remainder will be given to Oakland.

Angie Schmucker, executive director, Planned and Annual Giving, notes, “This

is a great way to provide for your family first and still make an incredibly selfless gift happen for OU students.”

“There are so many deserving students that need scholarships. We want them to have the great college experience that Oakland provides,” Dr. Gardella says. l

By Alison Gaudreau

OUAA board member gives back with scholarship gift

Joseph Gardella and his wife, Carol Kizis

“These two easy types of planned gifts helped Ron and Dorsey each make a substantial gift to benefit students without negatively impacting their income,” comments Angie Schmucker, executive director, OU Planned and Annual Giving. “The best part for our office was getting to help them with the process. They were so excited to do something so critical for doctoral students.”

“My passion here at OU has always been to help teachers find a way to help their students. This will help students pursue what they otherwise could not afford,” Dr. Cramer says.

Adds Dr. Hammond, “We also hope this will increase Oakland University’s visibility and attract potential doctoral students.” l

By Jennifer Heil Bonacorsi, CAS ’94

Reading reunion setRon Cramer and Dorsey Hammond are looking forward to attending the Reading Reunion, planned for June 2-3, 2013. They hope that many of the 100-plus doctoral alumni who live across the country and around the world will return to OU to connect with the current doctoral students and faculty in the reading and language arts program.

“The doctoral alumni hold key academic positions at universities, as well as leadership roles in state, regional and local school districts. The reunion will enable us to learn more about their interesting lives,” Dr. Hammond says. “Their accomplishments are impressive.”

For details on the reunion, contact Dave Tindall at [email protected]. l

The Gold StandardThe Gold Standard

Seong-Yeon Cho, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting, researched and published his findings on the deregulation of the trucking industry. Unhappy about being deregulated in the 1970s, it was speculated that trucking companies manipulated their earnings to reduce reported income. The trucking companies hoped that if they didn’t show a profit they would gain favorable public perception. Cho compared accounting accruals and benchmarking, and proved the theory that trucking firms were pretending to lose money as a way to persuade the government not to deregulate. Cho’s findings were published in 2012 in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy.

Kristine Condic, M.S.L., M.T.D., professor of the University Libraries, coordinated the facilitation of the LibQual survey for the library, where she and the LibQual team collected data based on responses from more than 1,800 OU faculty and staff members and students. Condic received comments revealing that users like the library’s 24/7 schedule, its ambience, café and the quiet study areas. Many suggested adding more study rooms. The survey measured users’ expectations and perceptions about the quality of the library in three categories: how users felt about the services and staff; the ability to locate resources; and the overall physical space in the library.

Darrin Hanna, Ph.D., associate professor of engineering, oversees a research lab where students are creating computer hardware for scan probe microscopes. These microscopes will be used to take nano images that reveal particles smaller than atoms and molecular structures. The infrastructure includes using artificial intelligence for scanning along a special path like a strand of DNA. Hanna’s research will aid in developing new software so scientists can create new experiments on the nano scanner. The type of embedded systems work that his lab is doing is one of only two labs in the world working on research of this kind.

Tamara Hew, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise science, is evaluating how the combination of exercise, the hormone irisin and metabolic fat activation impacts human health. Of particular interest is how irisin combats obesity. Irisin, released while muscles are exercising, stimulates the conversion of inactive tissue to active tissue to increase metabolism and burn calories in human bodies. Hew will be recruiting avid runners as well as others who are sedentary to participate in the study. Her goal is to understand the role that exercise plays with weight management and metabolic health, believing that regular physical activity may be the essential component of human health through the release of the hormone irisin.

Michael MacDonald, Ph.D., associate professor of education, teacher development and educational studies, received a more than $600,000 grant to develop a comprehensive, multi-dimensional suicide prevention program impacting OU’s campus and the Southeast Michigan community. MacDonald is collaborating with Patricia Wren, associate professor, health science; Lisa Dalton Connally, assistant professor, social work; and Lisa Hawley, associate professor, counseling. The program will roll out in three phases: an analysis of mental health awareness on campus; launching a website with interactive components; and implementing educational workshops targeting campus organizations such as Student Congress. The program assesses risk factors and design interventions addressing mental health needs related to suicide and suicidal behavior.

Kathleen Pfeiffer, Ph.D., professor of English and chair of the English Department, recently received the Kresge Fellowship in the Literary Arts, which offers her professional development opportunities designed for creative practitioners. In April, she will participate in Art X Detroit, where she will present selected essays in a collaborative performance entitled “Snapshots” at the Detroit Institute of Arts and instruct a memoir-writing workshop at the College for Creative Studies. In addition to the fellowship activities, Pfeiffer assisted the English Department with the launch of the new creative writing major last fall.

Kathleen Spencer, Ph.D., RN, visiting assistant professor of nursing, a member of the curriculum revision task force in the School of Nursing (SON), is working on faculty development that will integrate coursework materials about caring for America’s service members by 2014. By implementing a curriculum that is prepared to meet the needs of veterans and military families, the SON supports the initiative called Joining Forces, a national commitment made by more than 500 nursing schools to further educate our nation’s 3 million nurses about this group. Spencer says that the goal is for students to better understand the veterans they treat.

Mary Wermuth, M.A., distinguished Honors College professor, was one of only 15 faculty members who received the first-ever Honors College Inspiration Award in fall 2012. The student who nominated her wrote a flattering essay describing why Wermuth deserved the award that highlights the power of inspiration in teaching and in learning. Wermuth is associated with Oakland University “firsts” in other areas as well. She helped develop and establish The Honors College in the early 1970s and was the first active president of the OU Alumni Association, holding three degrees from OU. In the Rochester community, she helped found the International Academy. l

By Michele Jasukaitis

The Gold Standard

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Sports

Volleyball The 2012 Oakland volleyball team finished 16-13 overall and tied for third place in The Summit League regular season with a 9-7 mark to earn its second straight Summit League Championship appearance. For the first time in the program’s NCAA Division I era, OU won two tournaments, including the Golden Grizzlies Invite, where Oakland secured its first ever victory over a Big Ten opponent by defeating Iowa. Senior outside hitter Meghan Bray broke her own single-season kills record for the second straight year, finishing with 494 and the OU career record of 1,578, along with a school record 99 career service aces. She was named to both the All-Summit League first team and to the league’s All-Tournament team for the second straight year. Senior defensive specialist Alli Kirk and senior middle hitter Brittany Holbrook both were all-league honorable mention. Kirk had a school-record 622 digs on the year and ended her career second in school history with 1,769 digs. Holbrook finished as the second leading blocker in OU history with 377 and became only the fourth player in school history with more than 1,000 career kills. Freshman setter Ciara Schultz led OU in both assists and service aces in 2012 and was named to The Summit League All-Freshman team. It marked the fifth time an Oakland player has earned that honor in the last four years. l

Men’s soccerThe Golden Grizzlies won their ninth Summit League regular season title in 2012 with a 5-1-1 league mark and finished 11-7-1 overall and runner-up in The Summit League Championship. Senior forward Kyle Bethel, who ranked second in NCAA Division I in assists, was voted The Summit League Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year; senior defender John Timm was

chosen The Summit League Defensive Player of the Year; and head coach Eric Pogue was named Summit League Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Bethel and Timm were also selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region First Team, along with OU junior midfielder Miche’le Lipari and junior defender Lucas Diener. Senior midfielder Johnny Dreshaj and junior goalkeeper Scott Messer joined Bethel, Timm and Lipari on the All-Summit League first team, while Diener and sophomore forward Joey Tinnion were selected to the All-Summit League second team. The Golden Grizzlies ranked 11th in scoring offense in NCAA Division I and also allowed the fewest goals scored and shots on goal of any Summit League team in 2012. l

Women’s soccer The Oakland women’s soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program’s 14-year Division I history. The Golden Grizzlies defeated No. 4 seed and 16th-ranked Ohio State on penalty kicks in the opening round (see related article on p. 16) before ending their season with a 3-0 second-round loss to 15th-ranked Texas A&M. Oakland won The Summit League championship for the eighth time in school history and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament for the second consecutive year and the seventh time in school history. Oakland claimed its ninth Summit League regular season title with a 6-2 league record to earn the top seed in The Summit League Championship, where the Golden Grizzlies defeated Western Illinois 1-0 in a semifinal match, then blanked Ft. Wayne 2-0 in the league championship final. Senior Shannon Coley became the first goalkeeper to record back-to-back shutouts at the

league championship. Sophomore forward Kyla Kellermann led The Summit League in goals scored with eight and in total points with 19 and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Senior defender Kara Weber, a first team all-league selection a year ago, was voted the 2012 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year. Both Kellermann and Weber were chosen to the All-Region Second Team. Junior midfielder Abigail Haelewyn also was voted to the all-league first team, while senior midfielder Julianne Boyle earned all-league second team honors and was named Summit League Championship MVP. Freshman twin sisters Brianne and Jamie Horne were chosen to the league’s All-Newcomer team. OU finished the season with a 12-6-3 overall record and was the only school to defeat a ranked team in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. l

Cross country OU senior Brittni Hutton was The Summit League women’s cross country individual champion with a time of 21:49.8 in the 6K race, and both Golden Grizzlies teams finished fourth in their respective races at The Summit League championship. Hutton, named the MVP of the Championship and a first team all-league selection, was voted the 2012 Summit League Cross Country Athlete of the Year. She is the second runner in Oakland history to earn the honor; Kirstie Kieffer, SBA ’04, won the Athlete of the Year award in both 2000 and 2003. Junior Lia Jones finished 19th in the league meet as the OU women’s team improved three places in the standings from a year ago. Hutton set a new school record in the 6K earlier in the season with a time of 21:09 at the Bradley Classic. Senior Pat Cassady led the Golden Grizzlies in the men’s league championship with an 11th place finish

John Timm George O’Connor Alli Kirk Lia Jones

oakland.edu 13

in the 8K race with a time of 26:02 and earned All-Summit League second team honors for the third time in his career. Sophomore Nathan Ziolko placed 16th and freshman George O’Connor 19th, respectively, at The Summit League Championship as the OU men’s team improved from sixth place in 2011 to fourth place in 2012. l

Kampe reaches milestone winOakland head basketball coach Greg Kampe achieved a milestone victory during the 2012-13 season. Kampe, in his 29th season as head coach of the OU men’s team, posted his 500th career win in the Golden Grizzlies’ 67-60 win over Western Illinois January 26 before a Homecoming crowd of more than 3,300 fans, along with a Fox Sports Detroit TV audience. A five-time Summit League Coach-of-the-Year, Kampe became the 21st active NCAA I men’s basketball coach to join the 500-win club. l

Hall of Honor Class of ‘13Arthur Albiero, CAS ’96, (men’s swimming); Viggo Anthonsen, SBA ’01, (men’s soccer); Kristi McGough, CAS ’99, (women’s soccer); and Gail Wilson, SHS ’03, (women’s soccer) were inducted into the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor during the Fifth Annual Homecoming Weekend in January. OU Chief of Police Sam Lucido and recently retired professor of anthropology Dr. Richard Stamps were the recipients of the George Wibby Award and Gary D. Russi Community Service Award, respectively. The 1988 OU men’s soccer team that reached the Final Four and the 1991-92 national champion women’s swimming and diving team also were recognized for their accomplishments. For more information on the 2013 Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor inductees, go to ougrizzlies.com. l

Stuard back on PGA TourBrian Stuard, SBA ’05, returned to the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour in 2013 and began his second chance on the Tour with two top 10 finishes in January. He tied for fifth place at the Sony Open in Honolulu, and followed that with a tie for 10th place at the Humana Challenge in La Quinta, Calif. Through early March, Stuard ranked 34th on the 2013 PGA money list with $426,273.30 in earnings. Stuard finished 154th on the money earnings list in his rookie season of 2010 and spent the past two seasons on the Web.com Tour. He finished 66th in 2011, but regained his PGA Tour card after finishing 20th on the Web.com Tour money list last year. l

OU leads Commissioner’s CupOakland took the lead in The Summit League Commissioner’s Cup all-sports competition after the fall season as all five of its fall sports teams placed in the top four in their respective league standings. OU won regular season titles in both men’s and women’s soccer, the volleyball team placed third, and both the men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fourth at The Summit League Championship. The league’s Commissioner’s Cup is given annually to The Summit League member institution that collects the most combined points in relationship to placement in league-sponsored sports between its men’s and women’s athletic programs. l

Grizzly tracksOU placed 73 student-athletes on The Summit League 2012 Fall Academic Honor Roll, the fifth consecutive semester that Oakland has led the league in representatives on the Academic Honor Roll, which honors student-athletes who post a 3.0 or better grade

point average during their season of competition. Of the 73 Golden Grizzlies on the honor roll, 36 earned Distinguished Scholar accolades for posting a 3.6 or higher GPA during the fall semester … Oakland senior defensive midfielder Johnny Dreshaj was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Third Team for men’s soccer. A pre-business major with a concentration in finance and a 3.68 grade point average, Dreshaj is the third player in the history of the OU men’s soccer program to earn Academic All-America honors … Oakland student-athletes had a collective 3.20 grade point average for the 2012 fall semester. Seven Golden Grizzlies posted perfect 4.0 GPAs: Amanda Baker (volleyball), Julianne Boyle (women’s soccer), Alanna Gerber (women’s golf), Miranda Haas (women’s cross country), Spencer Marentette (baseball), Caymen Novak (women’s track and field) and Serena San Cartier (women’s soccer/track and field) … Collegeswimming.com ranked the Oakland men’s swimming and diving team 23rd in the nation the week of Dec. 3, 2012. It is the first time since moving to NCAA I that the Golden Grizzlies were ranked in the top 25 nationally … The Summit League is both adding and losing member institutions starting with the 2013-14 season. The University of Denver, currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), will join The Summit League and compete for league championships in 11 sports next year. Missouri-Kansas City is leaving The Summit League and will join the WAC next fall … Oakland is scheduled to host the 2013 Summit League Baseball Championship May 23-25. l

Kyle Bethel Pat CassadyBrittni HuttonMeghan Bray

Compiled by Fritz ReznorPhotos courtesy of OU Athletics Communications


With their first year of studies completed, five charter class members of the Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine accepted honors at a special convocation on November 30, 2012.

The students received awards for having outstanding performances in the following courses: biomedical foundations of clinical practice, neuroscience, cardiovascular, respiratory, promotion and maintenance of health, and art and practice of medicine.

“We’re a new school, where everything we do is something special,” said Robert Folberg, M.D., founding dean, in welcoming all to the ceremony. “This convocation will evolve into a robust tradition.”

Angela Nuzzarello, M.D., MHPE and associate dean for Student Affairs, described the OUWB students as being equally dedicated to their class work and the community.

“These students were chosen not only because they are bright but also because they are helpful to each other and their classmates,” Nuzzarello says. “They’ve also done wonderful things in the community. They are achieving academically but also contributing to our culture.”

Building a traditionSince August 2011, when they and 45 classmates entered the annals of OU

as the School of Medicine charter class, Lucy Boekelheide, Alexandra DePorre, Jonathan Goike, Christopher Jaeger and Brandon Luczak have been keenly aware of the mark they’re making on the school — from shaping its curriculum to building its traditions.

Pacesetters School of Medicine charter class students establish precedents, earn accolades By Michele Jasukaitis

“I liked the idea of a small

class where the students and

the faculty would all know each

other … It’s been really

rewarding to be part of shaping

this school and its culture.”

– Lucy Boekelheide

Lucy Boekelheide Alexandra DePorre Brandon Luczak

oakland.edu 15

Thankful for her award for outstanding work in her respiratory course, Alexandra DePorre says this recognition motivates her to keep studying, which averages about six to eight hours a day during a non-exam week.

“It’s nice to get positive feedback. Often we’re very future-oriented, and as soon as that exam is over we’re focused on the next one,” DePorre says. “It’s nice to step back and reflect on what we’ve accomplished, both as individuals and as a class.”

As second-year med students, they have begun working alongside Beaumont doctors. For Chris Jaeger, the recipient of the promotion and maintenance of health award, this was the aspect of med school that he has eagerly awaited; the hospital has been a fixture in his life since childhood.

“A large part of why I chose OUWB was because I grew up near Beaumont in Royal Oak — the same hospital that the OUWB was recruiting its faculty from,” he explains. “Also, I recognized that being in the charter class is an opportunity of a lifetime. I wouldn’t have that experience anywhere else.”

OU alumnus Jonathan Goike, who received the biomedical foundations of clinical practice and the

cardiovascular awards, appreciates the uniqueness of being in the charter class, particularly the feedback they provide the school on their experience.

“We have a ton of input on what works and what hasn’t worked with respect to the different aspects of our curriculum,” he says.

The right fitOakland’s campus in Rochester Hills is a

long way from the quaint beaches of South Kingstown in Rhode Island, home to the neuroscience award recipient, Lucy Boekelheide. But she easily warmed up to the idea of attending school in the Midwest.

“I liked the idea of a small class where the students and the faculty would all know each other,” Boekelheide says. “It’s been really rewarding to be part of shaping this school and its culture.”

The convocation concluded with the presentation of the Michele D. Raible Award, created in the memory of the late Dr. Raible, a faculty member and one of the founding associate deans who helped shape the foundation of what would become OUWB.

Raible’s husband, Dr. William Miles, described the honor’s recipient as someone who best personified the qualities of his late wife: compassionate, a mentor and someone who others would want to emulate.

The charter class nominated Brandon Luczak, who also received the award for arts and practice of medicine.

“According to Brandon’s peers, ‘He’s a natural teammate; it’s like he’s quarterbacking his college football team,’” Dr. Miles said of Luczak. “‘There is no one who is a better definition of a role model than Brandon.’”

As they round the corner of their second year, the close-knit group moves closer to putting their coursework knowledge into action as they begin to interact with patients. Additionally, they’ll find themselves progressing on their individual Capstone projects, research studies that OUWB students are required to complete upon graduation.

To hear more from Boekleheide, Jaeger and Luczak about their OUWB experience and their Capstone projects, go to oakland.edu/oumag. n

Jonathan Goike Christopher Jaeger

OUWB School of Medicine’s charter class members are helping to define the qualities that set Michigan’s newest medical school apart from the rest.


Kicking it up a notchWomen’s soccer team breaks through by advancing in the NCAA Tournament By Fritz Reznor

Nicole DeLuca

Last July, when Ohio State University women’s soccer associate head coach Glen Tourville was working at a summer camp in the Rochester, Mich., area, he stopped by the Oakland University campus to meet with OU head women’s soccer coach Nick O’Shea.

As they chatted, O’Shea spotted his senior midfielder Nicole DeLuca and motioned for her to join them. “This,” he said half-jokingly to Tourville, “is the girl who’s going to score the winning goal in the NCAA tournament against you.”

The remark was cheeky, perhaps, but prescient. Four months later, on November 10 — after winning both The Summit League regular season and the league championship tournament — the Golden Grizzlies found themselves on the pitch at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, locked in a 1-1 draw with fourth-seeded and 16th-ranked Ohio State in an NCAA Tournament first-round match. Junior midfielder Julianne Boyle had given Oakland a 1-0 lead at the 41 minute mark, but the Buckeyes evened the score 20 minutes later.

The match had gone through a scoreless overtime and into a five-player, penalty kick shootout. Whitney Sarkis and Meghan Reynolds both scored on their PKs to give Oakland an early edge. Meanwhile, OU goalkeeper Shannon Coley, playing in her first ever shootout, stopped three of the first four Buckeye attempts in a stellar effort that would earn her CollegeSoccer360.com’s National Primetime Player of the Week.

The prediction comes trueWith a 2-1 lead in the shootout, one more goal would clinch the victory for

the Golden Grizzlies. The fourth shooter in O’Shea’s lineup stepped up to address the ball … DeLuca.

oakland.edu 17

“Walking up there, I didn’t know which side I was going to go to,” she told the Oakland Press days later. She made the right choice. Like Sarkis and Reynolds before her, DeLuca’s kick skipped past the Buckeye goalkeeper and into the lower right corner of the net.

“After I made it ... I wasn’t sure if we had won or not. I looked at Shannon, and she was just standing there. I went to run back to my teammates, and they were sprinting toward us.”

For O’Shea, BIS ’06, the 19-year veteran coach and a member of OU’s Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor, it was a moment to savor. “My enjoyment came from watching the players — the anticipation, and then the celebration — just their pure excitement,” he recalls.

Oakland was the only team to defeat a seeded opponent during the first-round NCAA Tournament matches. It also marked the first time in eight tries in the Division I era that the Golden Grizzlies had advanced to the second round. A writer from one national sports media outlet called it “the shocker” of the tournament.

Nothing’s shocking“This may have been a shocker to some, but not to us,”

says a proud OU Director of Athletics, Tracy Huth. “We had a quality team all year long. Our previous women’s soccer teams had made several NCAA championship tournament

appearances. They have been close several times versus ranked opponents. I merely looked at this opportunity as another potential victory. The sense has been, ‘It’s only a matter of time.’”

O’Shea concurs. He’d had a different feeling about his 2012 team, he says. This season was going to be special.

“We knew this year’s team was good, that they had evolved to the point that they could play with the bigger schools,” O’Shea says, pointing out that during the season his team had tied both Michigan State and Northwestern, and had lost to Michigan on an early goal. “Our team believed we could win that game, and you can’t beat teams like Ohio State if the players don’t believe in themselves.”

The Golden Grizzlies’ season would end the following Friday with a 3-0 loss to 15th-ranked Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA tournament. And although it wasn’t the first time an Oakland team had advanced to the second round of an NCAA tournament — the 2007 men’s soccer team set the benchmark with an opening-round win over Michigan State — it was the first time an OU team had defeated a seeded team in NCAA Tournament play.

And that’s an achievement the members of the 2012 Oakland University women’s soccer team can carry with them for the rest of their lives. n


Books and beyondUniversity Libraries more relevant than ever in an increasingly online world By Daniel Bodene

Within Oakland University’s Kresge Library, there’s more than what you might expect: the typical acres of shelves packed with tens of thousands of printed volumes.

There’s a coffee shop, for one thing.But, as Adriene Lim, Ph.D., dean of University Libraries,

is fond of saying, “The library has always been more than its building and books.”

In fact, it’s not even simply the Kresge Library anymore. The library building now houses both the university’s main library and the OU-William Beaumont Medical Library. To reflect this expanded role, the organizational workgroups

in the Kresge Library now refer to themselves collectively as the University Libraries.

So, what’s in the Kresge Library building besides books (and the ever-popular coffee shop)? More important, how does a face-to-face services and print-based institution —one with its roots in the Middle Ages — remain relevant in the Digital Age?

The way it always has: by evolving, adapting and enhancing to meet users’ needs.

Information station

“Our libraries provide access to a wide-ranging collection of online journals, print materials and multimedia resources, and offer high-quality research support from expert librarians to help students discover, access and use information effectively,” Dr. Lim explains. “We offer online and email assistance from library faculty members, and also have a mobile site available to help you search our collection on the go.”

She points out that librarians in general have been at the forefront of adapting to the electronic revolution — for instance, card catalogs, books, special collections and primary source documents have been featured in libraries’ digitization projects for many years — and, in the case of OU’s libraries, information resources and services have long been available in a variety of formats.

Those resources continue to be heavily used. Statistics bear this out: In the last academic year, more than a half-million people visited Kresge Library; its website received more than a million hits; and more than 2 million searches were logged in its online databases and indexes. Library faculty provided 250 instruction sessions and 335 research consultations and handled more than 16,000 one-on-one reference questions.

“We have the same core mission, but now we integrate technology, information and services — online and in-person — to accomplish it,” says Dr. Lim. “That’s why our tagline is ‘Knowledge Unbound.’”

What that means is that by adopting new virtual services and technologies to augment traditional operations, “the library is wherever you need it,” says Dr. Lim. “It’s in your pocket on your mobile device, or in your home office or in your research lab, integrated into Google Scholar and bringing you full text apart from the old traditional containers. And it’s available 24/7.”

Goal orientedDr. Lim says the University Libraries’ “platform for

high-quality services, instruction, and information” supports three major goals.

First is a focus on student success. She says that studies have shown a correlation between investment in libraries and student retention, so library faculty have worked with other OU faculty to integrate information literacy

“The library has always

been more than its

building and books.”

Learn more about OU Libraries at oakland.edu/oumag.

oakland.edu 19

instruction into classes, offer more online tutorials and research guides, and build on the success of library-based courses such as the for-credit “Research in the Information Age” and popular workshops like “Dissertation 101.”

Space in the library’s second floor has been converted into a Learning Commons where students can take advantage of 30 stations to “plug and play” their personal electronics or, in other areas, access more than 150 computers available for individual use. There are laptops and even fully outfitted media carts available for checkout. Scattered among the variety of comfortable seating are whiteboards for note-taking and collaborative group work.

And for all fans of old-school technology, the library also offers assistance for using the library’s print and microform collections, which continue to be valuable in a “digital age” where not all information is available online.

In terms of facilities, the library also offers meeting areas for large groups as well as rooms set aside for individual study and collaborative ventures.

Research readyThe second goal is to support an expanded OU

research profile. Dr. Lim says, “We can bring our information expertise to interdisciplinary e-research teams;

we can create and win federal and foundational grants in information science; and we can be leaders in digital repositories, e-publishing and research data preservation.”

She says she believes enhancing research-related services for the university is a perfect match with the libraries’ evolving role. For example, librarians and library technologists can work with OU’s research data management infrastructure, providing data curating and preservation, and open-access presentation services.

The third goal is to offer University Libraries’ resources for the public good.

“We not only serve all units and constituents within the university, we also provide benefits for the broader community,” says Dr. Lim. “The library is open to the public and is a selective federal depository library providing access to government information. We sponsor many different events and exhibits, and provide a variety of intellectual and cultural experiences.”

So, while OU’s University Libraries is still recognizable by its stacks of bound volumes, it’s also the place where online resources, technology and the expertise of library faculty all reach beyond the libraries’ physical walls to make “knowledge unbound” for Oakland University’s community and beyond. n

More than a half-million people visited Kresge Library during the last academic year. Its 24/7 hours of operation offer the OU community unlimited access to all forms of information and services. Fully up-to-date for digitally based research, the library still maintains an inventory of earlier forms of documentation, including printed matter and microforms.


Signature structureLongtime philanthropists Hugh and Nancy Elliott to fund campus bell tower By Daniel Bodene

“I wanted this bell tower to make a statement, to be a central focus on the campus.”

– Nancy Elliott

In the ongoing evolution of Oakland University, one particularly stunning

landmark on campus will always owe its existence to the order of things. Simply put, it

was Nancy’s turn.

For decades, Hugh and Nancy Elliott have been among OU’s most generous

benefactors, donating millions of dollars and uncounted hours of their time to various

projects. These range from forming the first athletics volunteer committee dedicated to

fundraising, to providing funding for the R. Hugh and Nancy Elliott Hall of Business and

Information Technology.

What is all the more remarkable is that neither one is an OU alumnus. Fortunately for

the OU community, the Elliotts embody an observation by Winston Churchill: “We make

a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

oakland.edu 21

The Elliotts have made their living from Elliott Group International, a company founded by Hugh that produces industrial and automotive tapes and other specialty products. By their reckoning, the company has provided a good life for them and their son, Chad, BIS, ’07.

Sporting chanceThat’s where an athletics connection begins to come into play. By his own admission,

Hugh probably would not have attended college at all if it weren’t for an athletic scholarship to Virginia Tech. He passed his love of athletics on to his son, who began playing soccer at age 6 in a youth league.


Hugh would watch Chad’s games, eventually befriending the team’s coach, who one day asked if Hugh was interested in an informal tour of OU. From there, one thing led to many others, all aimed at providing crucial financial support to Oakland.

“We’ve been blessed in business,” says Hugh. “So, Nancy and I felt that since we made our wealth here, we would leave it here. We started a ‘bucket list’ of projects.”

“This is our home,” adds Nancy. “Our son went to Oakland — why wouldn’t we do what we can to help Oakland? OU is so personal that what you give it, it gives you back so much.”

Over the years, many significant projects have been checked off the bucket list:

• CreationandsponsorshipofthePresident’sInvitationalgolf outing, which has raised more than $1 million for scholarships

• ContributionsforthecreationoftheHughandNancyElliott Room in the O’rena

• Endowmentsformanyscholarshipsandacademiclectures

• CreationoftheElliott/StinsonChallenge,whichraised$500,000 for the School of Business Administration

“When you give, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself,” says Hugh. “I learned many years ago — and it’s true — that even if you give just a little bit, over time it adds up.”

“The Elliotts’ remarkable gift will certainly come to symbolize the pride our community has taken in what we’ve accomplished, as

well as the promise of even greater success in the future.”

– OU President Gary Russi

oakland.edu 23

Delia Rodi is chief executive officer of Niagara Murano LLC, the architectural firm developing the Elliott Carillon Tower. She graduated from OU in 1992 with a degree in electrical engineering.

“This project is so special,” she says. “It’s a privilege to be part of it. As always, everyone at OU has been wonderful to work with, from the OU Facilities Department to the Elliotts, who are such gracious donors. They really want to do well by the university, so it has been easy to work with them to achieve their vision of providing a communal space for students to gather. Their concept in having an iconic structure for this campus is that it will be sort of a beacon for student life here.”

Recalling her own student experience at OU, Rodi says her OU education has played a pivotal role for her, giving her a solid footing for the career she now has.

“What I particularly appreciate about my OU education is that it really gave me a firm grasp on the business side of things, which allows you to see a more complete picture,” she says. “You realize that it’s important to understand your work from a holistic perspective. I also remember my family coming from Italy to see me graduate and introducing them to some of my professors.

“Now, bringing that knowledge back to OU to help create this landmark tower and plaza, it’s so very dear to my heart.” l

And while the bucket list itself is a joint project, the Elliotts take turns with implementation. Which brings us to The Elliott Carillon Tower, announced Dec. 21, 2012. “Basically, it was my turn!” says Nancy with a laugh.

Central focusThe idea for a tower grew out of a desire to build on

OU’s evolution as a university. Many major universities in the U.S. have bell towers, Nancy notes.

“I wanted this bell tower to make a statement, to be a central focus on the campus,” she states.

The Elliotts approached OU with the idea, which was met with enthusiasm by President Gary D. Russi and the university’s Board of Trustees. While details are still being worked out, the tower itself will be 151 feet tall, with a full set of carillon bells, which are now being specially cast.

The tower will be complemented by a fountain — the Elliotts say they were particularly inspired by the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas — plus lights and landscaping. The architects finalizing the design are David Barczys and Delia Rodi, SECS ’92, of Niagara Murano LLC, based in Birmingham, Mich.

A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled as part of the Founders’ Day celebration in mid-April this year. “When parents drop off their freshmen in 2014, we want them to hear bells,” says Hugh.

For all they have already done for Oakland and other causes, Hugh and Nancy Elliott say they remain committed to philanthropy. At the same time, they’ve set an example that son Chad has been following from an early age. He contributed to Notre Dame Preparatory while still a student there.

“Who knows — in two or three years from now, maybe Chad will pick a project,” says Hugh. And once again, Oakland University will be deeply grateful to the Elliotts. n

“To quantify the impact of the Elliotts’ generosity to Oakland University over the years is likely impossible, as it has, without a doubt, helped countless students looking to improve their personal and professional lives through

higher education.”– Eric Barritt, OU vice president for Development, Alumni and

Community Engagement


For the record, Rick French does not need more cowbell. He already has it.

Yes, that cowbell from Blue Oyster Cult’s hit song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” its insistent clank made iconic by actor Christopher Walken in a famous Saturday Night Live television skit.

“The original cowbell from the song sits in my office,” says French, CAS ’84, chairman and chief executive officer of Raleigh, N.C.-based French/West/Vaughan (FWV), a public relations and brand communications agency. Yet there’s no mystery surrounding his ownership of this amusing artifact of rock history.

One of the hats the public relations exec wears is that of a member of the board of trustees at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s one of the ways French has accumulated his treasure trove of rock music memorabilia, amassed through various benefits and music industry friends.

“There’s the cliché that rock and roll is the soundtrack of our lives, but it’s pretty much true,” says French. “People do get emotional about music. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame helps preserve the importance and legacy of the art form.”

Ahead of the curve Fitting, then, that an art form known

for pushing the envelope would ring a bell with the journalism student-turned-public relations whiz who does the same.

Recognized by trade publication The Holmes Report as the national agency of the year in 2004, his FWV has 500-plus advertising and public relations awards that French calls a testament to the good work clients let them do and the good work his staff creates on clients’ behalf.

“We have not been afraid to remake ourselves over and over, before it was necessary,” says French, who merged his young company with the established West and Vaughan to create FWV.

“Clients are always looking for new ideas and new thinking. They want to know that you’re keeping up and stepping ahead of them. The problem a

The French connection Alum takes public relations firm to award-winning levels, starts OU scholarship By Cara Catallo

oakland.edu 25

“Somebody made a difference that helped guide me down a path, that helped me start my firm, and I’ve obviously been blessed,” French says. “I’m just trying to do a very small part helping these students get off on the right path to help them pursue their dreams.”

In return, French says that he hopes those students pay it forward and do the same for someone else one day. Last fall, OU recognized French’s exemplary efforts and achievements, and awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

“I was so amazingly honored,” French says. “To receive that award was among the most meaningful to me, without question. I look back so fondly at my time at Oakland University — I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Everything about it was a great experience.

“College teaches you a lot more than academics. I had a chance to experience a lot of different things: the friendships, the fun, all of it contributed to a great well-rounded academic experience.” n

Cara Catallo is a freelance writer from Clarkston, Mich.

lot of agencies have is they become successful and are afraid to change. We become successful and decide we have to change.”

Positive relationsToday, FWV’s clients include Wrangler, Melitta,

Justin Boot Company and the Jimmy V Foundation, among others, as well as representing celebrities and sports figures. The client people most frequently ask about is football star Michael Vick. After serving time on federal charges related to dog fighting, the repentant quarterback worked to repair his image and turned his life around to become a role model to ensure at-risk kids don’t make the same mistakes, French says. FWV received commendations for their work with Vick.

“It’s not so much what we did as much as what he chose to do with his life, and he allowed us to help come along for the ride and help tell his story,” French explains.

Making those connections is what it’s all about for French, who aims to pass that along to OU students through a scholarship he established for public relations students and by returning to guest lecture. Those contributions make a positive difference in the lives of public relations-track students, says Garry Gilbert, director of journalism at OU.

“A chance to network with a guy like Rick French is invaluable. He has been enormously successful,” explains Prof. Gilbert, adding that one of the qualities he most appreciates about French is his sense of responsibility to give back. “This will, in part, be his legacy to Oakland.”

The growth in public relations jobs has outpaced the decline of newspaper jobs, says Prof. Gilbert, and companies now need to reach their audience directly and need coherent voices from within to do so.

“That’s why Rick’s contributions to the PR side of our program are so important,” he says.

Paying it forward French notes the difference that having such guidance

can make to someone starting out.“All of us who have been successful in business got

a helping hand somewhere,” French says. “It’s not that those of us who built successful businesses didn’t build them — we did — but we probably got help along the way.

French, at left, with singers Kenny Loggins

and Jim Messina.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s glass pyramid is one of its defining characteristics. As a member of its board of trustees, French helps guide the mission of the Cleveland, Ohio-based cultural institution.

Rick French, in white shirt at right, joins the White Sox All-Star Band — composed of members of Yes, Queen, Journey, Tower of Power and the Dave Mason Band — at a benefit concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


Plan your next event AT THE OC

Oakland CenterIf you’re looking for the perfect location for your next business party,

corporate conference, wedding reception, holiday party or any special event, look no further than oakland university’s oakland center.

the oc boasts 18 different meeting rooms of various sizes,

including banquet rooms and the cozy Fireside lounge. We offer a total of 7,000 square feet of

flexible meeting space and can accommodate groups as large as 600 or as small as 16.

Full catering is available on-site for your convenience.

For more information, call us at (248) 370-3245 or visit our website at oakland.edu/oc.

oakland.edu 27

Ambassador spotlight

Meet the motivators

To help attract talented students to Oakland University, a growing corps of volunteers is involved in the Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program (AAAP). More than 350 alumni who reside in more than 20 different states are actively engaged with the AAAP. Collectively, they have contributed close to 800 volunteer service hours to the university at more than 115 undergraduate recruitment events. Beginning with this issue, we will hear from some of the ambassadors who have volunteered to spread the message about OU.

A model for othersOakland University’s Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program (AAAP) launched in 2007 as a temporarily funded, part-time position with a one-person department. Nearly six years later, it is permanently staffed, with a new coordinator aided by graduate assistants and approximately 350 alumni members. It’s also attracting attention from alumni groups at other universities who hope to duplicate OU’s successful approach.

“Where other universities have instituted some type of regional high school college fair program, we established a multi-faceted model,” says Luke Fleer, regional director of development. “We have ambassadors who meaningfully engage in their communities during the entire recruitment cycle by sharing their love for reading with elementary students in the AAAP’s Grizzly Story Time Visit program to yielding admitted high school seniors and transfer students — and a lot in between.”

Fleer says the success of AAAP has set the bar high for other universities that are interested in creating community engagement and enrollment management alumni programs. n

Stefen Welch, CAS ’05, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communication. Today, he works part-time as a communications and journalism instructor at OU. He became an ambassador in 2008 and says he plans to continue to support OU in the same manner in which he was supported.

“It would be selfish not to pass that on to someone else,” he says. “At OU, we want everyone to succeed—from students to faculty and staff.”

How OU benefits from the AAAP“I think Alumni Admissions Ambassadors have a certain pride, spirit and love for OU, and future students can see that. We are real alums, with real stories and experiences. That makes a huge difference and a significant impact.”

Memorable AAAP moment“I was the co-keynote speaker, along with Kaniqua Daniel, CAS ‘04. She and I met in our freshmen year and were great friends while attending OU. We talked about our time as students at OU, including some pretty funny moments. Upon finishing, we announced to the crowd that we were engaged. The smiles and cheers were pretty touching. Real memories, stories and connections do happen at OU.” l

Tom Schramski, SECS ’78, played basketball and ran cross-country for OU. His volunteering at a Midnight Madnezz event led to his becoming an ambassador in 2008. Now living in Troy, Mich., only 15 minutes from the OU campus, he is able to attend many alumni activities. “I find that I enjoy every second I spend on campus supporting OU alumni or ambassador events,” he says.

“Our contact with potential students creates an opportunity for informal and open conversation. I always emphasize the ‘family’ atmosphere that I feel exists at OU. I can assure students and their families that they will be welcomed into the OU family and the unlimited opportunities available from an OU education.”

Becoming admissions ambassadors“You won’t know what you’re missing until you support some events and reap the intrinsic rewards from getting ‘connected’ to the excitement that is always in the air at Oakland University. My personal favorite event is ‘Go for the Gold’ and special events associated with the SECS.”

How AAAP impacts my life“The AAAP impacts my life in a positive way by presenting me with opportunities to stay involved with the university and help by simply being ‘me.’ It enriches my life.” l


Alumni

OUAA Board of Directors

Board Chair: John Hruska Jr., SBA ’89, BGS ’86

Bryan Barnett, SBA ’98

Beth Benson, SBA ’81

Joseph Davidson, CAS ’71

Mary Jo Dawson, SEHS ’92

Lisa Flynn, CAS ’89

Joseph Gardella Jr., CAS ’77

Tressa Gardner, CAS ’90

Greggory Garrett, SECS ’97

Garry Gilbert, CAS ’02 and ’95

Julie Granthen, SBA ’87, CAS ’81

Lynn Gross, SBA ’87

Adam Kochenderfer, CAS ’02

Michael Michalak, CAS ’68

Teresa Stayer, SHS ’84

Johnna Struck, SBA ’85

Cynthia Thieme, SBA ’94

Anthony Thornton, CAS ’76

We would like to extend our appreciation to our board members for their hard work,

dedication and generous giving of their time and talent to our alumni programs.

License plate program

Show your Golden Grizzlies pride on the road! Not only will your license plate proudly show your affiliation to Oakland University, but you will also be supporting the OUAA Scholarship Program. Proceeds from sales of OU plates directly support student scholarships. To date, the OUAA has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to qualified OU students. Visit the benefits page at oualumni.com for more information. l

Homecoming photos

Alumni, family and friends celebrated Homecoming Weekend by returning to Oakland’s campus in January. Events included a welcome reception at Meadow Brook Hall, Hall of Honor athletics ceremony, campus open houses, tailgate party, OUAA Family Festival and sports competitions. Visit oualumni.com and click on Events, then Event Photos to view the Homecoming photo gallery. l

Basketball events

So far this season, hundreds of alumni have gathered across the country and in the O’rena to cheer on the Golden Grizzlies. Themed basketball events allowed alumni to reconnect with OU faculty and staff and network with fellow alums while supporting their team. Young Alumni Night was held Jan. 17, 2013; Political Science alumni gathered on Jan. 19, 2013; Communications and Journalism Night was Feb. 7, 2013; and Master of Public Administration (MPA) alumni night was March 2, 2013. Visit oualumni.com and click on Events, then Event Photos to view basketball event photo galleries.

“I was thrilled to host the Young Alumni Night at the O’rena,” said Elissa Harrison, SEHS ’11, young alumni leadership committee member. “I have always had a strong love for OU, but getting involved as an alum makes me a proud Grizzly and excited to see what the future holds for the campus community.” l

aDVOCATE

The message “I AM OU” is not merely an acronym, but a call to action and a point of pride among all alumni. Together, alumni make a difference by joining fellow alumni at events that support scholarships and programs, volunteering their time, making a gift, advocating for OU, mentoring OU students, and sharing their OU pride. Read on to see how your fellow alumni have been participating in the life of the university and to learn more about the many ways you can get involved.

IamIamI OU

Alumni, we want to hear from you! Send us the latest information about you and your accomplishments for future publication in Class Notes.

You may also include a photo, either a print or high resolution

(300 dpi) digital file.

To submit new information, go to oualumni.com and click on

“Update Your Record.” You can also mail your update to:

Oakland University Alumni Engagement, John Dodge House, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester,

MI 48309-4497. Class Notes are printed on a space-available basis.

IMPACT A STUDENT’S EXPERIENCE

oakland.edu 29

Remarkable. Pioneering. Grateful. Those are just a few of the words one could use to describe the Oakland University Charter Class as its members plan for the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Reunion events will be held Sept. 13 –14, 2013.

“We were mostly local kids who all lived at home,” says Mary Sloan, who majored in education. “North and South Foundation halls were the only buildings. The student center was just being built, so we went to each other’s homes to socialize. It made a difference in getting to know people.”

As the student center and engineering buildings rose up on open fields, Charter Class members tell of taking a path through the woods to reach another campus structure, one unlike many had ever seen: Meadow Brook Hall. “I still dream about Meadow Brook Hall,” says Sloan. “I go back there often.”

OU founders Alfred and Matilda Wilson held several events for the students at Meadow Brook Hall, recalls Mary Jo Ahern, who majored in Russian language.

“I was a tour guide in Mr. Wilson’s study during a dinner. Mr. Wilson spent an hour telling me all about the study, with the wood carvings and secret door. The Wilsons spent a lot of time with the Charter Class — I think we were like a second family to them,” says Ahern.

Larger-than-life visits to Meadow Brook Hall blended with real-world educational experiences that gave students the skills they’ve needed to build and renew careers over the last 50 years.

“Our education was top-notch,” says Joanne Jacobson, an elementary education major. “The faculty was young and enthusiastic and really challenged us.”

For many of the students, finances were tight. They welcomed the chance to save money by living at home. Beverly Miller, who majored in education, says OU came along at just the right time. “It was serendipity,” she says. “Many of us didn’t think we would get to go to college.”

Jim Isler, a Russian language major, became one of OU’s first campus residents — in a building that had housed the estate’s milk processing factory. “The entire college experience was a really wonderful way to become a grownup,” he says.

Originally named Michigan State University-Oakland for the first three years, the name was changed to Oakland University in time for graduation, says A. Michael Deller, who also majored in Russian language. And for all four years, the Charter Class met the demands of college without having the guidance of older students on campus. As Deller quips, “We were always the upperclassmen!”

For more information on the Charter Class 50th reunion, visit oakland.edu/charterclass or contact Christina Simon, outreach coordinator, at 248-364-6134 or [email protected]. l

Charter class reunion: looking forward, looking back

Jim Isler, a Russian language major, became one of OU’s first campus residents — in a building that had housed the estate’s milk processing factory.

wonderful way to become a grownup,” he says.

C H A R T E R C L A S S

50th Reunion

2013

A. Michael Deller Joanne Hill Mary PuzerskiJim IslerMary Jo Koren Beverly Donato


IamIamI OUamOUam

Be social and stay in the loop. You can stay connected to fellow classmates and your alma mater through these online social networks.

“Like” our Facebook Fan Page

• Stay informed about OU campus news and events

• Meet other alumni and friends and view photos

• Participate in sharing your memories and stories for the chance to win prizes

OU’s young alumni are discovering that now is the perfect time to get involved with — and benefit from — the wide variety of alumni opportunities that the university offers.

“Why wait to take advantage of it?” says Mike Lerchenfeldt, SEHS ’08, about young alumni getting involved with alumni events during the first years after graduation. “You might be at a point in your life, possibly before you’ve started a family, when you are more available to participate. You don’t have to have the outlook that being an active alum is something you do down the road.”

From campus events like Golden Grizzlies basketball games and the Keeper of the Dream awards, to off-campus outings and free webinars, staying connected after graduation is a great way to continue and expand the OU experience.

“Alumni events are opportunities to practice socializing and starting conversations,” says Anna Costa, CAS ’09. “You can work on skills that will benefit you whether you are interviewing for your first job, or your next job.”

Participating in alumni events has many professional benefits, but they are designed to be fun, too.

“It can be intimidating to go and to meet people, but when you attend an event you’ll quickly realize that you’re not really stepping out of your comfort zone,” says Emily Stepanian-Bennett, SEHS ’08. “Young alumni are such an important part of the mix,” continues Stepanian-Bennett. “They have fresh ideas and new stories. But when alumni of all ages are together, they find that they have many shared experiences that cross over the generations.”

Talking with more experienced alumni who are working in a profession that a young alumnus is considering can yield priceless advice, says Brittani Hobbs, CAS ’08. “You can learn from their experience and find out how they pursued their career,” says Hobbs.

Recent grads who are in the early stages of their careers — and incomes — can take heart that taking part in alumni activities doesn’t come with a large financial obligation. Events are typically free and only ask for the gift of your time.

Adds Lerchenfeldt: “There are so many ways to give back. Supporting the university shows how thankful I am to have been an OU student. It helped make me the person I am.”

Visit oualumni.com/youngalumni to learn more about Young Alumni programs and upcoming events. l

Young alums: Now is the time

mENTOR

Stay connected to the OUAA

Mike Lerchenfeldt with Lana and Ed Harris at

Meadow Brook Hall Homecoming event

Anna Costa with fellow alums Amy Ring, Simon Keleel and Dawn Aubry Slowik

oakland.edu 31

Alumni

UPDATE

New director named

The Office of Alumni Engagement has named Sue Helderop as director of alumni and community engagement. Helderop has spent much of her career in nonprofit and higher education settings. Over the last eight years, she has worked at Wayne State University School of Medicine, most recently serving as the director of alumni affairs. In this role, she was responsible for designing unique programming to engage alumni that included local and regional events and print and online communications; leadership to the Medical Alumni Board of Governors; overseeing the School of Medicine’s Alumni Annual Fund; and developing programming that focused on communication and engagement with key volunteers. Prior to her work in alumni engagement, Helderop served in a development role, where she helped raise funds that were instrumental to the construction of a new medical education building.

“I am excited to serve the alumni of Oakland University,” says Helderop. “You are among our greatest assets and I look forward to meeting you and learning the many ways that, every day, you are making a difference in your own communities.” l

Grizzly Getaway travel program

Pack your suitcase and your love for learning when you travel with Oakland University Grizzly Getaway Alumni Travel. Choose from extraordinary places to explore and immerse yourself in the history, art, culture and cuisine in faraway corners of the globe. You’ll be in good company when sharing your travel experience with fellow OU alumni with a mutual interest in discovery and adventure. New 2013 itineraries announced:

Young Alumni Boyne Mountain Adventure Weekend, May 17–19

Discover Scotland, June 17–26

Colors of New England, Sept. 30–Oct. 7

Italian Inspirations, Oct. 17–25

Beijing City Stay, Nov. 7–15

Visit oualumni.com/travel to plan your adventure. l

Save the DateOUAA Golf Challenge July 15, 2013

OU Night at Comerica Park Aug. 21, 2013

OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHERS

Opening doors

Volunteer for the Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program (AAAP) and help recruit qualified students to OU. By participating in events like college fairs and on-campus visit programs, you can share your Oakland experience with prospective students and their families. “Oakland University has given me so much throughout the years,” said Lynne Lombard, SHS ’84. “That includes an amazing group of lifelong friends and a career that I love. I learned early in life that by giving I always end up receiving so much more. That continues to be true whether it’s sharing my experience at Oakland with students and parents at college night or volunteering within our community.” Visit oakland.edu/aaap to volunteer. l

Sue Helderop

“Connect” on LinkedIn

• Share career tips and explore employment options

• Discover inside connections and past and present colleagues

• Connect with Oakland alumni, faculty, staff and students

“Follow” us on Twitter

• Find the latest campus news

• Stay connected with upcoming events

Visit oualumni.com to find OUAA on social media. l

Boyne Mountain

ScotlandBeijing


Career/Accomplishments 1980sGene J. Grabowski Jr., SBA ’89, was hired as senior solutions architect for SAS Institute. His responsibilities will involve designing analytical solutions for the automotive industry. In particular, his efforts will focus on econometric forecasting, optimization and designing credit scoring solutions.

Elizabeth R. (Reosti) Jacobson, SEHS ’81, retired from the Sonoma County Juvenile Probation Department in California after 20 years of service.

Marc A. Ott, MPA ‘81 and SBA ‘79, city manager of Austin, Tex., was recently recognized by the Austin NAACP branch for the community leader of the year award. Based on comparisons of 13 cities with populations greater than 500,000, Austin had the highest overall satisfaction rating among its residents for city services and set the standard for the other large cities by rating above the national average in 41 of 46 areas that were assessed. Ott was selected as city manager by the Austin City Council in January 2008. He is the 17th person in city history to be appointed city manager in a full-time capacity.

Gregory R. Wood, CAS ’83, was appointed associate dean of the business school at Canisius College Richard J. Wehle School of Business. Wood served as chairman and associate professor of marketing and information systems at Canisius. He joined the college in 1987 as an assistant professor of marketing.

1970sRobert J. Gibbs, CAS ’77, was honored by the Clinton Presidential Library’s School of Public Service on October 15, 2012, for his career contributions in urban planning and development. Gibbs has been asked to speak as a William J. Clinton Distinguished Lecturer where he will present: How Great Communities are Conceived and Built, based on his new book Principles for Urban Retail Planning and Development. Gibbs is a noted Michigan landscape architect and urban planner who founded Gibbs Planning Group in 1988. He has consulted on more than 400 cities and new towns across the United States, Pacific Rim and Europe. He teaches a planning course at the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Executive Education Program and has contributed to five urban planning books. Gibbs holds an M.L.A. from the University of Michigan and is a charter member of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Karin C. (Cibula) Loftin, CAS ’70, is competing on horseback riding dressage at first level.

Kim (Zim) M. Olson, SECS ’79, hosted a mathematics exhibit at the San Diego Joint Math Meeting in January 2013. Olson has developed a paradigm called the System and/or Sub System Paradigm.

Letha D. Williams, Ph.D., CAS ’79, has been named department chair for the Doctorate of Health Administration, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Public Health programs at A. T. Still University, the world’s first college of osteopathic medicine.

Alumni | class notes

1960sJudith A. (Walter) Filip, CAS ’69, directs the office of Office Management Training at the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute, which provides training to all who are engaged in the conduct of foreign affairs on behalf of the U.S. government. She was previously with the Conflict and Stabilization (CSO) Bureau at the Department of State. Her husband, Alex, is deputy director of Public Affairs at the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Bethesda, Md. They live in Alexandria, Va.

Michael Honey, CAS ’69, is currently Haley Professor of Humanities at the University of Washington Tacoma and has written three major books on civil rights and labor history, including Going Down Jericho Road: The Memphis Strike, Martin Luther King’s Last Campaign (WW Norton), which won the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for studies in social justice. He recently edited a book of Dr. King’s speeches on labor rights and economic justice, All Labor Has Dignity (Beacon Press), and has received numerous awards for his research and community service. He lectures widely on labor and civil rights issues and returned a few years ago to speak at OU, the place he first became engaged in social issues.

continued on p. 35

Gwendolyn D. (Shah) Thomas, CAS ’81, chapter president for the Southern Oakland County chapter of the NAACP, delivered the opening speech on voting, environmental justice and diversity at the annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Oct. 21, 2012. This year’s SOC Freedom Fund dinner’s theme was “Standing United for Civil Rights and Justice for All.” The program also included the first Civil Rights Hall of Fame, honoring six individuals from the southern Oakland County area who have made a significant contribution to civil rights within the last 10 years.

oakland.edu 33

Alumni ProfileAlumni Profile

“As a child of the 1960s, I’d always thought the Peace Corps would be a great thing to do,” Lawrence says. “But then college, marriage, kids and a career happened.”

Around the same time, Lawrence’s niece graduated from college and applied to the corps. That decision inspired Lawrence to do the same, and placed her on the cusp of a growing trend: retirees joining the Peace Corps.

During the first three months of her service, Lawrence will be fully immersed in the country’s language and culture by living with a host family in Lesotho. Soon after, Lawrence will be sworn into service and assigned to a local community, where she will live and work with the local people.

“My children are grown and I am in good health,” she explains. “It is the perfect time for me to travel and have a new adventure. I’m so excited to see how my journey unfolds.” n

By Katherine Land

For Bonnie Lawrence, SEHS ’79, life’s next big adventure has just begun. After retiring from a 35-year teaching career, raising two children and building a life in the Metamora, Mich., area, she recently joined the Peace Corps.

Lawrence took flight this fall on a nearly two and a half year service commitment in Lesotho, a small, mountainous nation surrounded by South Africa.

“It is something different, a real challenge and a completely new experience,” Lawrence says. “The anticipation reminds me of going away to college for the first time, when everything is new and you don’t know anyone yet. Right now I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing, but I’ll be learning a lot of new things.”

Lawrence did not always plan to take such an exotic journey. She graduated with a master’s degree in teaching from OU and worked as a special education preschool teacher.

Then, in 2010, her life changed suddenly. Her husband passed away and Lawrence retired. It was then that she began to consider joining the Peace Corps.

Teaching grad finds new challenges in the Peace Corps

Alumni Profile

background music. When his grandfather bought him a Benny Goodman cassette tape, he says, “I knew at that moment that was what I wanted to do.”

Bennett’s range has expanded since he first fell in love with and mastered big band music. He’s immersed himself in the styles of Elvis Presley, Stevie Ray Vaughan and others, but discovered he particularly enjoys 1950s rockabilly music.

“You eventually find your own voice,” explains Bennett, who performs regularly and sells his recordings through www.davebennett.com. He expects to release a new CD sometime later this year.

Bennett says he appreciates that he was able to complete his OU studies according to his own schedule.

“I took things at the pace I wanted,” Bennett says, adding that his music schedule didn’t have to miss a beat. And that suits Bennett just fine.

“My life has been one big balancing act.” n

By Cara Catallo, a freelance writer from Clarkston, Mich.

His longstanding fascination with the Man of Steel is easy to comprehend. Like Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent, Dave Bennett, MAcc ’12, SBA ’06, balances two personas of his own. By day, he knows the ins and outs of accounting. By night, his real job kicks in as a professional musician.

While Bennett’s music career is an accomplished one — he’s played clarinet with the Count Basie Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, among others — his father and grandfather insisted it would be a good idea to have another career he could fall back on, should music fail to provide an adequate income. His father suggested going to OU.

“I didn’t want to study music because I didn’t want to play in a concert band,” says Bennett, 28, adding that it came down to finding a field he could tolerate. Bennett sees a correlation between music and accounting, with both being analytical, he says.

Still, first and foremost, Bennett is a clarinetist. The instrument caught his attention at age 10. By 14, the self-taught Bennett was touring. He credits his interest in classic films with introducing him to the old-timey sounds that often play as

In math and music, Bennett keeps up with the count


“My grandfather bought me a

Benny Goodman cassette tape.

I knew at that moment what I

wanted to do.”

– Dave Bennett

In math and music, Bennett keeps up with the count

oakland.edu 35

class notes | Alumni1990sRen J. Carlton, SBA ’97, was honored with a 2012 Class of 40 Under 40 award by Crain’s Detroit Business. Ren started his Troy, Mich.-based company, Dynamic Advisory Solutions, in 2000. His biggest achievement is designing a method that creates self-sufficiency in accounting departments, and his current goal is to have a presence in every major U.S city.

Mark D. Johnston, CAS ’98, is principal investigator for Pulsed-Power Flash X-ray Radiography Diode Development Research at Sandia National Laboratories.

David G. Kolasinski, CAS ’94, has accepted the position of corporate safety manager with NSK Americas. Kolasinski lives in Saline, Mich., with his wife, Melissa (Parrott) Kolasinski, CAS ’95, and their two children.

Patricia A. (Morrison) Malone, SBA ’92 and ’80, joined Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union (MSGCU) as its vice president of marketing and business development. Malone brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to MSGCU, having most recently served as managing director at Charles Schwab for its Retirement Plan Division.

Jason D. Menzo, CAS ’99, has been appointed director of marketing for NicOx Inc. He will be responsible for leading the overall marketing strategy, including product positioning, branding, messaging and support for the sales team to enable maximum brand equity. In his most recent role, Menzo was senior brand manager for the PureVision portfolio of contact lenses at Bausch + Lomb. Previously, he was associate director of marketing at Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an ophthalmic-focused company acquired by Merck & Co. in May 2011. He also played an integral role in ophthalmic business development product evaluations and assessments.

Andrea E. Moon, MM ’92, was featured in an August 2012 Troy Times article about her career as a composer, teacher and performer. Moon teaches vocal

music at Martell Elementary School in the Troy (Mich.) School District. Moon’s latest film scoring effort, Ellie, which she created as part of the 2012 48 Hour Film Project tour, won Best Musical Score after being screened and judged at the Emagine Theater in Royal Oak. She’s currently working on the musical theme to accompany an audio book for children titled Mimi the Inchworm, written by Novi, Mich., teacher Sue Beth Balesh.

Gary A. Pace, MM ’98, is the minister of music at St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Warren, Mich. He is also currently an instructor of piano and voice at the Axis Music Academy in Southfield, Mich. Pace also plays pop music of the 1950s to the 1990s on keyboards as a freelance musician.

Robert R. Weaver, CAS ’94, recently started Firefighter 101 training through the department he volunteers with. His goal is to become a full-time, career firefighter. Weaver grew up in Rochester, Mich., with the volunteer department there, and found a community in Georgia that has accepted his family and wanted him to join. His family and especially his wife, Roxanne, have been encouraging throughout the process.

Matthew J. Wolf-Meyer, CAS ’98, published his first book, The Slumbering Masses: Sleep, Medicine and Modern American Life (University of Minnesota Press, 2012). Wolf-Meyer is currently assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

2000sCarmen E. Abrego, CAS ’02, earned an M.A. degree in communications from Wayne State University and is working to earn a B.A. in anthropology.

Sarah M. Brettrager, SHS ’08, passed the checkride to earn her private pilot license on August 29, 2012.

Charity R. (Jones) Dean, CAS ’06, was awarded the 2012 Dean’s Scholarship by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Dean was also elected to the post of secretary for the first-year evening division by her peers.

Hassane S. El-Khoury, MS ’07, was named executive vice president of Programmable Systems Division at Cypress. El-Khoury has run Cypress’ automotive business since 2007, spearheading the company’s expansion into the human-machine interface and body electronics segments of the automotive marketplace. The Programmable Systems Division’s products include Cypress’s flagship Programmable System-on-Chip products.

continued from p. 32

Charity R. Dean

Patricia A. Malone

Julie A. Kildee, SEHS ’06 and ’97, director of Holly Academy, was awarded the Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year Award on November 12, 2012, by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies at the annual Michigan Charter School Conference in Detroit. More than 1,100 school principals, directors and superintendents were in the running for this prestigious award.

Michael J. Lerchenfeldt, SEHS ’08, graduated with a Master of Education-Principalship from Saginaw Valley State University.

Julie A. Kildee

continued on p. 36



Rachel K. Levine, MAT ’00, was named as a recipient of the 13th Annual Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education presented by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, in conjunction with JESNA (Jewish Education Service of North America). Levine has been teaching in the field of Jewish education for eight years and worked in secular education for nine years prior to that. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University.

Melissa G. (Mellen) Michaelson, SEHS ’02, has been appointed director of Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit’s K-4 Division. Michaelson has been a valued member of the Hillel professional staff for two years as a kindergarten teacher. In 2002, Michaelson was named “Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year.”

Patrick A. Olsen, SECS ’09, was hired as the new principal at Reynolds High School in North Carolina. Since 2001, Olsen has worked as principal at Richmond High School in Richmond, Mich. He was also assistant principal for Richmond High from 2000 to 2001. Olsen taught high school science and social studies in Shepherd, Mich., from 1995 to 2000. Before that, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Persian Gulf War. Olsen earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in educational administration from Central Michigan University.

Fredric E. Roth, MS ’09, joined Husch Blackwell’s Intellectual Property Litigation group. His academic degrees include a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he was president of the IP Law Society and a member of the IP moot court team, and a B.S. in biology from Ohio State University, where he held multiple offices in the student government association, culminating as president.

Jill M. (Krajewski) Stone, CAS ’03, has been named the new executive director of St. Joseph Today visitor’s center. Stone will direct marketing and promotion of events and businesses in St. Joseph, Mich., as well as augment local government efforts to develop tourism in this Lake Michigan resort town. Stone was most recently a program strategist for Perry Ballard Inc. (PBI), St. Joseph. Since 2008, she has provided holistic marketing and communications strategies and program

management for a diverse client base with an emphasis on tourism.

Jacqueline A. (DeVore) Webster, BGS ’04, was promoted by McGraw Wentworth from Senior Account Manager to Account Director for the Troy, Mich., firm. In her new position, Webster will be responsible for managing several Michigan manufacturing, services, technology and nonprofit clients, providing strategic planning for their group benefits plans, facilitating the management of plan offerings and evaluating plan alternatives. Webster first joined McGraw Wentworth in 2006 as an account manager.

2010sMelissa M. Barone, SON ’12, is employed by St. John Health System in Southfield, Mich.

Christopher A. Chirco, SECS ’12, was the recipient of the BorgWarner 2011 Innovation Award.

Ashlee F. Kazirut, CAS ’10, graduated from Wayne State University’s Master of Library and Information Science program in December 2012 and has been working at Lansing Community College Library as a collection services paraprofessional.

Michael D. Solt, SECS ’12, was awarded the 2012 Dean’s Scholarship by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Rachel Thomas, CAS ’12, was awarded the 2012 Dean’s Scholarship by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Engagements & Weddings

Emily (Stoye) Hunter, SEHS ’02, married Neil Hunter on September 29, 2012.

Kristen (Clark) Janosky, MPA ’11, and Joseph Janosky III are happy to announce they were married on October 20, 2012, in Clarkston, Mich.

Stephanie (Goodrich) Macpherson, CAS ’97, and Jon Macpherson married in 2012. Stephanie joined Merrill Lynch in 1996 and is a financial advisor in Troy, Mich. Jon is an engineer. Their primary residence is in Rochester Hills, Mich.

Births/Adoptions

James A. Baubie III, SBA ’02, and Christa M. (Towler) Baubie, CAS ’00, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Noah James, on July 15, 2012. They also have three children from previous marriages.

Andrea L. (Muehlhoff) Forsythe, CAS ’04, and her husband, Todd, welcomed the birth of Audrina Jolene on May 4, 2012. She joins her sister, Ashlynn.

Michael D. Solt

Jacqueline A. Webster

Rachel Thomas

Stephanie Macpherson

Audrina Jolene Forsythe


continued on p. 38

oakland.edu 45

As an alumnus of Oakland University, you remember what it was like

to cheer for the Black and Gold at sporting events, to participate in

student organizations and programs, and to show your school spirit

in everything you did. Remain connected to your alma mater and

share your experiences with future generations of Golden Grizzlies

by joining our growing team of Alumni Admissions Ambassadors.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Join an admissions adviser at a local college fair

• Welcome receptions for admitted students

• Go for the Gold campus visit day

• Housing move-in day

• Academic visit days

• Conference speaker

• Grizzly story time visits

• Represent OU at an out-of-state college fair

learn mOre(248) 370-GRIZ | [email protected] | oakland.edu/aaap

alUmni admiSSiOnSalUmni admiSSiOnSamBaSSadOr prOGram



Sarah E. (Lehman) Freeman, CAS ’01, and her husband, Paul, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Eli Arthur. He was born August 28, 2012, and joins big sister Kayla Fae.

Florencia I. (Nespolo) Sparks, SEHS ’06 and CAS ’03, and her husband, Justin, welcomed their second son, Liam Vincent, on May 7, 2012. He joins older brother Oliver.

Emily N. (Fox) Stepanian-Bennett, SEHS ’08, welcomed Jacob Michael Stepanian-Bennett on September 10, 2012.

Deaths

Edward J. Andrews, SBA ’72, died September 10, 2012.

Laura Arenas, CAS ’81, died February 3, 2012.

Patricia C. (Bond) Beasley, MAT ’81, died August 4, 2012.

William C. Bonnici, SEHS ’89, died July 13, 2012.

Gregory J. Brown, BGS ’99, died March 31, 2012.

Dale A. Chapoton, CAS ’74, died October 1, 2011.

Mary L. Chinoski, MAT ’76, died July 24, 2012.

Natalie N. (Evans) Cronberger, CAS ’02, died November 5, 2012.

Margaret H. Greening, CAS ’83, died August 26, 2012.

Steven Hunt, CAS ’63, died October 11, 2012.

Joyce L. (Rose) Kitchen, SEHS ’63, died May 5, 2012.

Zenon D. Kwik, CAS ’83, died July 22, 2012.

Margine M. Price, CAS ’91, died August 18, 2012.

Richard A. Shelley, CAS ’96, died August 26, 2012.

Karen M. Stock, CAS ’91, died August 28, 2012.

Peggy A. Studzinski, SBA ’01, died December 9, 2012.

Online or print?

You decide.If you would rather read OU Magazine online and not receive

a printed copy in your mailbox, just let us know. Go to

oakland.edu/oumag/unsubscribe and fill out the online form.

We’ll remove your name from our printed mailing list and

send an e-mail notification to the e-mail address you provide

each time we release a new edition of the magazine.

This current issue, along with past issues, can be found at

oakland.edu/oumag.

Eli Arthur Freeman

Bryan R. Hegelund, SBA ’97, and Judy A. (Wiegand) Hegelund, SBA

’95, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Andrew Bryan, on

November 2, 2012.


oakland.edu 39

conditions clean and sterile for their delivery.

“The training we provided to the women helped them recognize warning signs of maternal and neonatal complications and assisted them in providing a safer home delivery,” she explains, noting that about 87 percent of births in Afghanistan are at home.

It proved to be an eye-opening experience, and one that Duenow was able to share with OU nursing students. Last March, she returned to the campus to present “Guns, Germs and Afghanistan: Nursing in the Modern Army,” at the Oakland Center. In June, she became part of the Warrior Transition Battalion, which is stationed at Fort Drum in New York. In her new role as a senior case manager, she focuses on helping soldiers recover from injuries.

“Our goal is to help them transition back to the military or a civilian role,” Duenow explains. “We treat soldiers who are physically injured or are dealing with issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — and sometimes both. It’s very challenging work.” n

By Eric Reikowski

Hers is a compassion that knows no bounds — nor boundaries.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at OU, Kimberly Duenow, SON ’08, CAS ’02, dedicated several years working in animal rescue. She later returned to OU to complete her Bachelor of Science in nursing. While working toward that second degree, Duenow began to consider becoming a military nurse.

“I knew I wanted to do more,” she recalls. “It needed to be more than just a job, and I wanted to expand into the area of world health.”

Shortly after graduation, she enlisted in the U.S. Army. Now in her fifth year of service, Duenow has attained the rank of captain, and has served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Afghanistan.

While stationed in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, Duenow became involved in what she considers her most rewarding assignment. She was the officer in charge of Operation Spartan Stork, a project designed to provide childbirth assistance and nutritional education to women in the remote areas near Kandahar. Her duties included distributing “birthing kits” to pregnant women to help keep home

Nursing alum, servicewoman takes on humanitarian ‘mission possible’

Alumni Profile


OU Moment OU Moment

Homecoming at OU means an abundance of fun and friendship, but it also involves caring for the community. The sixth annual mitten toss was held at halftime during the Golden Grizzlies’ men’s basketball game against Summit League rival Western Illinois University. Fans were encouraged to throw mittens, gloves, scarves and hats onto the basketball court as part of the festivities. OU swimming and diving team members Grace Waller and Colby Hanna helped collect the colorful array of items, which were donated to the Baldwin Center in Pontiac, Mich., to benefit area families in need for the winter. l

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